Berlin – ESI at a podium discussion on 30 years Berlin Republic and a European vision for the future

25 November 2022
Video: Deutsche Gesellschaft

ESI’s Gerald Knaus was invited to participate in a podium discussion on “30 Years of the ‘Berlin Republic’ Contemporary Issues and Provisions for the Future”, organised by Deutsche Gesellschaft e.V.

Gerald’s panel was on “What significance will global migration movements have in the future?”, where he spoke on the Russian war on Ukraine and the countless wars fought on the European continent in the past 30 years. He said that these wars went mostly unnoticed in the West, but today’s war in Ukraine cannot be ignored. Freedom and democracy are at stake and we are seeing a massive arrival of war refugees in the EU.

Gerald argued that the EU should offer Ukraine access to the EU Single Market and the four freedoms. He said that this won’t be easy as many member states are doubtful. Therefore, it needs be a credible and concrete offer, also to be made to Moldova and especially to the Western Balkans countries.

Gerald stated that the EU needs to mobilise and distribute Ukrainian refugees fairly across its member states and be prepared for a further increase of arrivals this winter.

Gerald debated with Raphael Bossong (Deputy Head of the EU/Europe Research Group of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs) and Niels Annen (Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development | Co-Chair of the German Society e. V.). The panel was moderated by Korbinian Frenzel (Deutschlandradio Kultur).